Serena to face Kerber in final
American to aim for eighth Wimbledon title in what will be a repeat of the 2016 summit clash
LONDON:SERENA Williams booked a Wimbledon final rematch against Angelique Kerber as the seven-time champion marched into her 10th All England Club title match with a 6-2, 6-4 rout of Julia Goerges on Thursday.
On a 20-match winning streak at Wimbledon, Serena became the third oldest female Grand Slam finalist in the Open era and will now face world No 10 Kerber on Saturday in a repeat of the 2016 showpiece won by Williams.
Williams has often blasted her rivals off Centre Court with ferocious power-hitting, but German 13th seed Goerges was sent packing with a more subtle 70-minute display featuring just 16 winners and five aces.
In only her fourth tournament since the birth of her daughter Olympia in September, the 23-time Grand Slam champion is closing in on her first major title as a mother.
The American star will have history in her sights against Kerber as she tries to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slams singles titles.
An eighth Wimbledon title would also move her past Steffi Graf into second place on the list of female Wimbledon champions, behind nine-time winner Martina Navratilova.
“She (Kerber) is clearly a really good grass-court player. But whatever happens it’s a great moment for me and incredible motivation to keep going for the rest of my career,” Serena said.
When Goerges error wrapped up the first set, Serena’s dominance was so total that the American, whose emotions are usually on full display, barely acknowledged the moment.
By the time a Goerges dropshot drifted into net to present Serena with the decisive break in the sixth game of the second set, the contest had already been sapped of any drama and moments later, the title favourite was waving to the crowd in celebration of making it to the final.
KERBER CRUISES
Earlier, Kerber raced into her second Wimbledon final and fourth Grand Slam showpiece as the German crushed former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 6-3 in 67 minutes.
The 30-year-old hit only 10 winners but that was all it took to get the job done as Latvian 12th seed Ostapenko shot herself in the foot with 36 unforced errors.
“I was just trying to take my chances. I’m so excited,” Kerber said. “It’s such a great feeling to be back in the final. Playing on Centre Court is always great.”
Referencing her dismal form last year, Kerber added: “2017 is over and I’m really happy about that. I’m really happy and proud to be in a Grand Slam final. These are the matches I was working for since I was a kid.”
Results (semi-finals): 11-Angelique Kerber bt 12-Jelena Ostapenko 6-3 6-3; 25-Serena Williams bt 13-Julia Goerges 6-2 6-4
Kevin Anderson v John Isner
Last meeting: Isner beat Anderson 7-6(6), 6-2 in the round of 32 at Indian Wells in 2015
Anderson won